In ancient Judea, a Jewish aristocrat opposing Roman occupation of his homeland reunites with his childhood friend, now a Roman commander — setting in motion a saga of betrayal, adventure, tragedy, revenge, and faith.
Where to Watch Ben-Hur
- Richard Scott LongAugust 6, 2026What a spectacular movie. I am 55 years old and had never seen it. What a shame. Charlton Heston was terrific A must see! Definitely a classic movie!!
- Mister ArnMay 13, 2025An extravagant movie directed by a man that knows how to tell a story using film.
- Roshferd99February 18, 2026Can’t believe I went 51 years and never watched this. What an incredible, amazing film!!!
- GuyJPJrMay 24, 2026Wow! I only remembered parts of this from when I was a kid. It is truly an epic movie and inspirational. Having won a record 11 Oscars which has only been tied by Titanic and Lord of the Rings -Return of the Kings - which gives a reference of how great it is. It is long : 3.5 hours (without commercials).
- Patrick D.October 5, 2026They say your 30s is realizing your father was right the whole time. I watched this based on my father's recommendation and he was right. This is spectacular. I keep asking myself how they pulled this film off. This is a beautiful production and just awesome in the literal sense of the word. I feel inspired after watching this. This should absolutely be in the conversation with Lawrence of Arabia. I personally liked this more. Don't listen to the "too long" comments. Similar to Lawrence of Arabia, the payoff is immense, and well worth it. I think people have Tik-Tok brain and can't focus so a film like this doesn't hold their attention. It rewards your attention tenfold and is one of the best movies I've ever seen. It has it all. You have the epic journey, the friendship, the betrayal, the politics, the vengeance, the forgiveness, and the absolute masterclass of weaving the story of the Christ into the narrative.
- Persian EmpireFebruary 13, 2026A timeless classic that still feels epic today. From its powerful story of betrayal and redemption to the legendary chariot race, it’s both thrilling and deeply moving. Charlton Heston shines in the lead, and the film’s scale and craftsmanship are stunning. It’s a must-watch masterpiece that proves great storytelling never gets old.
- flavo43January 15, 2026Ben-Hur is one of the greatest epics ever produced, a monumental achievement in storytelling, scale, and craftsmanship. Charlton Heston delivers a powerful, dignified performance as Judah Ben-Hur, grounding the film’s sweeping narrative with genuine emotion and moral strength. His journey from betrayal and slavery to redemption and forgiveness is both dramatic and deeply human. The production itself is astonishing. The set designs, costumes, and sheer number of extras create a world that feels authentic and alive. Of course, the chariot race remains one of the most famous and thrilling action sequences in cinema history—its intensity, choreography, and practical execution still surpass many modern action scenes. Beyond spectacle, the film succeeds because of its characters and themes: faith, revenge, mercy, and spiritual awakening. The story unfolds with patience and confidence, allowing the audience to fully invest in Ben-Hur’s fate. Even decades later, Ben-Hur stands as a benchmark for epic filmmaking. It represents Hollywood at its most ambitious and proves that scale, heart, and storytelling can exist together in perfect balance.
- Ethen HarrelsonSeptember 16, 2026I’ve seen a lot of movies. But being born in 1998 I missed a lot of the classics. This is by far my favorite movie I’ve ever seen which is battling with some heavy hitters like braveheart and 2001 a space odyssey. Every person should see this at least once
- Dawood sarwarMay 5, 2026Ben Hur amazing movie
- JaneMay 2, 2026This is a classic from the age of film before CGI.
- MaxRiderMay 2, 2026"Ben-Hur is an epic masterpiece directed by William Wyler, with a screenplay by Karl Tunberg, based on Lew Wallace’s novel. Cinematographer Robert L. Surtees captured its sweeping grandeur in breathtaking 65mm color. Filmed mostly at Cinecittà Studios in Rome, the production was massive, including a giant chariot arena built in a rock quarry. The highlight is the legendary chariot race, a real, high-stakes action sequence with actual horses and chariots that still stands as one of the most thrilling in cinema history. A true classic of scale and spectacle."
- Fredc83February 17, 2026Maxi Best Off 👌👍
- Ugurcan OrcunAugust 11, 2025Hats off to pulling off all that spectacle without a single pixel.
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Free on 20+ platforms. Pick yours.Ben-Hur Trivia
Ben-Hur was released on November 18, 1959.
Ben-Hur was directed by William Wyler.
Ben-Hur has a runtime of 3h 32m.
Ben-Hur was produced by Sam Zimbalist.
In ancient Judea, a Jewish aristocrat opposing Roman occupation of his homeland reunites with his childhood friend, now a Roman commander — setting in motion a saga of betrayal, adventure, tragedy, revenge, and faith.
The key characters in Ben-Hur are Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston), Messala (Stephen Boyd), Scheich Ildirim (Hugh Griffith).
Ben-Hur is rated G.
Ben-Hur is a Drama, Adventure, History film.
Ben-Hur has an audience rating of 9 out of 10.
Ben-Hur had a budget of $15M.
Ben-Hur has made $164M at the box office.